Antonio Callaway #81 of the Florida Gators scores the winning touchdown during a game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 26, 2015 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Seven SEC players have been named to the Paul Hornung Award Watch List, an award given to the nation’s most versatile player in college football. Stanford running back Christian McCaffery won the award last season.

That list includes Texas A&M super sophomore Christian Kirk who racked up 1,009 yards receiving and two touchdowns to go with 341 yards in punt returns and two punt return touchdowns. Kirk is expected to lead a high-powered Texas A&M passing attack and take another step forward. His versatility is something Kevin Sumlin will surely be trying to use to its full advantage.

Kirk though is joined by six other solid SEC players.

That list is led by Florida’s Antonio Callaway. Callaway recorded 678 receiving yards and four touchdowns to go with 435 punt return yards and two touchdowns.

Players do not have to be both great receivers and kick returning mavens. This is about versatility and the ability to do multiple things on the field or be used in multiple ways — both as a downfield threat and in screens and extended handoffs.

Mississippi State’s Brandon Holloway showed himself adept as both a runner and a receiver with 809 yards and five touchdowns as a junior last year for the Bulldogs.

Tennessee’s Cameron Sutton is a talented cornerback who also doubles as Tennessee’s kick returner, recording two punt returns for touchdowns.

Arkansas’ Jared Cornelius had a solid sophomore year last year, catching 24 passes for 393 yards. Georgia’s Isaiah McKenzie had two punt returns for a touchdown and 117 yards and two touchdowns receiving last year. Auburn’s Johnathan Ford is expected to make the switch from defensive back to wide receiver. His versatility should be self evident.

All these players will surely be used in unique ways to take advantage of their versatile skills.

About the Author

Anthony Chiang began his writing career in Gainesville at the University of Florida’s student-run newspaper. At The Independent Florida Alligator, he covered the school’s golf, volleyball, baseball, and football teams. The Miami native has also written for the Sun Sentinel and MLB.com, following the Tampa Bay Rays.